April 2017
Dear Parishioners,
One of the most famous pieces of
Choral Music is Handel’s Messiah.
I’m sure we all know parts of it even
if we don’t know it all – the shout of
Hallelujah in the chorus of the same
name being the most famous. I
think Jenner who put together the
sections of the Bible to tell the story
of Jesus was exceedingly clever
and the text he gave Handel to set
to music tells of Jesus’ birth, his
purpose, his death and resurrection
and ultimately his recognition as the
Messiah, the anointed one, the one
that God was going to send to save
the world.
On Palm Sunday at 6.30pm there
will be a performance of selected
pieces from part 2 and 3. We are
not singing any of Part 1 which
covers the birth and intent of Jesus,
but start from John the Baptist’s
words Behold the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the
world. It was John saying to his
disciples – Look – there he is, come
and see/listen to what it is all about.
And that is my invitation - Come
and see/hear the story of Jesus’
mission and passion in the music of
Handel.
We have two soloists

joining us from away - Alan Fairs (of
Glyndebourne fame) and Jon Weller
(from Hereford who sang for us last
year), - along with three locals,
Annette Blyth, Linda Bayliss and
Philippa
Alexander,
splendid
soloists, all! The goodly choir is
composed of those who normally
sing in church, and those who want
to join in on this occasion.
Then on Easter Sunday the church
will be decorated with flowers and
the service at 11am will be filled with
celebration as we join with the
church across the world to say “HE
IS RISEN!”. If you are a confirmed
member of the Church this is one of
the 3 days in the year to come and
make your communion and that
forms the foundation of the Christian
Faith. (The other two are Christmas
and Pentecost or Whit Sunday –
although in this rural neck of the
woods it is often Harvest that people
make
as
their
third
large
celebration).
After Easter we look forward to
Rogation Sunday – this year it is
Sunday 21st May at 10.30am and
we will be the guests of Oakfields
Farm in Kingsland (thanks to the
Vaughan Family for agreeing to host
this ). Then the wedding season

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begins and hopefully we look
forward to enjoying a good Summer
with all the social occasions that
brings our way!
We have been grateful to Jean
Barbour and her team for organising
a bridge drive in the Coronation Hall
in March which brought in a much
needed ÂŁ600 for the church coffers
(Jos, Pam and Heather in the
kitchen and Janet and Lynn front of
house). Even the vicar was tempted
to play and managed to get a prize
for the score closest to zero.
The annual meeting will be held in
Church on April 23rd at 11.30am
after the morning service (which
begins at 10.30 am) and it is an
opportunity to say thank you to all
those who hold responsibility in the
church â&#x20AC;&#x201C; our churchwardens and
PCC and for those who are on the
electoral roll to make their vote
count! Janet Boydell looks after the
electoral roll and if you feel that this
is your church and you wish to be
on the roll I will let you have a form
for her.
Onward and upwards
Julie

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Weobley Theatre Goers
Billy Elliot was a huge success – a
wonderfully moving piece of theatre with
amazing dancing from the young Billy
Elliot, who received a well-deserved
standing ovation.
We are now looking forward to going to
Funny Girl on 10th May. Strangely (to
me!) only 16 people booked for this show,
which is now a complete sell-out on the
afternoon we are going and an extra
performance has been added to the run in
Birmingham.
This will be the end of this season, but a
few tickets are still available for War Horse
and Crazy For You, which are booked for
the autumn. We shall be going to War
Horse on Thursday 19th October to see the
2.30
performance
at
the
Bristol
Hippodrome, leaving Bell Square, Weobley

at 10.00am, which should give you nearly 2
hours to have lunch or walk around the
area. Cost will be £63 including the coach
to be paid before 18th May.
And we are going to sew Crazy For You,
starring Tom Chambers at Cardiff
Millennium Theatre on Thursday 7th
September leaving Bell Square, Weobley,
at 10.00 for the matinée at 2.30pm. “High
energy, high kicking and gloriously
glamorous, Crazy For You is the ultimate
feel-good musical with a fabulous score
from the Gershwin brothers’ songbook.
Mistaken identities, plot twists, heartbreak,
happiness and a wealth of memorable
tunes, including I Got Rhythm, They Can’t
Take That Away From Me, Nice Work If
You Can Get It and Embraceable You. Top
Hat star Chambers plays the stage-mad son
of a wealthy banker family who is given the
task of closing a theatre in Nevada.” All

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seats are in the first rows of the Circle and
are ÂŁ51 to include the coach, to be paid
before 30th June.
For further information contact me on
01544 318513or at
bobkatebest@tiscali.co.uk
Kate Best

KINGTON
OSTEOPATHS
Richard Mann BSc. (Ost)
Diana Mann B.Sc (Ost)

Easter Lilies
Please remember that if you would like to
sponsor a lily in memory of a loved one or
to celebrate a special occasion, forms are
available from the back of the Church or at
the Post Office and should be completed
by April 7th at the latest (to give time for
ordering the lilies). Please return the form
to me (01568 708479) or post it through the
Rectory letter box. Sponsored Lilies will
be used to decorate the church on Easter
Sunday.
Pam Smith

9, THE SQUARE,
KINGTON, HR5 3BA

01544 239 210
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For more information call us or visit our
web site.

kingtonosteopaths.co.uk

6

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Spring forward
This time last year we were singing the praises of spring and it seems a year later
there is no change. It’s hard not to be in awe of our local surroundings here in
Herefordshire as we watch the new lambs finding their feet and hedgerows
bouncing back into life – we can even ignore the odd spring shower or in recent
weeks the sleet storms!
To encourage as much wildlife back to our site as possible, we hope to reap the
rewards of biodiversity work we carried out last year. Following our ecology report
undertaken in 2015, we made a big push to introduce and improve existing habitats
at the end of autumn, holding our annual Biodiversity Big Day Out which we hope to
repeat this year with more local primary schools.
As mentioned last year, we discovered a colony of red-tailed bees so a large part of
our biodiversity event was spent getting muddy and planting wildflowers along the
bumblebee banks around site.
Now our bumblebee banks are flourishing - full of daffodils and snowdrops, our
trees are full of bird feeders and our bug hotels are full of creepy crawlies. Next on
the list is our hedgehog house – we just need to wait until the current resident has
ended his winter slumber.
To keep up to date with all the biodiversity goings on, or to read the latest
sustainability
and
responsibility
report,
visit
our
website:
kingspaninsulation.co.uk/Sustainability.

Bingo
in aid of the W. I.
Coronation Hall
Saturday 8th April
Doors open 6.30pm
Eyes Down 7.30 pm

9

Project update March 2017
Donations Request
We have now heard from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and, not unexpectedly,
are being asked to resubmit our bid. One thing we must do is raise some money
ourselves which we estimate to be between £5,000 and £10,000 to strengthen our
bid. We already have £1,000 pledged and are looking into some local trusts. As we
still need to keep the project relatively low key until the archeology is completed,
we are asking for pledges from our supporters first. This money will go towards
four specialised, outdoor history interpretation panels to be located at key
points including Kingsland Church and the MX Inn and, if the larger sum is pledged,
the visitor information displays at the MX Inn.
If you feel able to pledge a donation, no matter how modest, towards these panels
please contact Ian Maddox at ian.maddox@outlook.com
Your pledge will be
anonymous known only to Ian and the Battlefields Trust (BT) Treasurer. Once the
project is underway, with or without HLF funding, we will ask for the pledges to be
released into the BT account where 100% will be ring fenced for the panels.
We have good support from a host of organisations and experts, including the
National Trust and English Heritage, as well as the MX Inn which is to host the main
visitor information display, not forgetting the Battlefields Trust under whose
umbrella this locally run project operates.
Mortimer’s Cross Battlefield Walk May 6th.
This all-day event is impressively narrated by experienced battlefield walk leaders
and will include pre-walk coffee, a simple but delicious lunch and post walk tea and
cake. These refreshments are a highlight, with excellent reviews. The morning
walk (3.5 miles approx.) will take in the two most likely battle sites, plus two post
lunch events in Kingsland and an afternoon return walk (2 miles approx). The walk
is conducted at a modest pace to accommodate varying levels of fitness. It has
been oversubscribed each year so book early. It is a truly fun and sociable day out
which runs from 9.30-5.30. Details and booking forms for this walk will be sent to
you on request, please contact Martin Hackett at hackett765@btinternet.com
Some project outcomes
A major aim of the project is to raise awareness of the battle for all age groups, for
example by improving visitor experience and perhaps locating the site more
accurately. One exciting development will be the landscape archaeology to map the

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area as closely as possible to how it was in 1461 and to teach people how to read
their historic landscape.
A comprehensive description of the battle can be found on the Battlefield Trust’s
website. http://www.battlefieldstrust.com/resourcecentre/warsoftheroses/battleview.asp?BattleFieldId=25
We also have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MX1461
If you wish to be added to the supporters list – or to unsubscribe, please
contact me on 01568 708597 or at patricia@pothecary.net

Patricia Pothecary (Secretary)

SNOWDONIA
NATIONAL PARK

CAROLINE NEWTON,
MCSP
Chartered Physiotherapist

SELF-CATERING HOLIDAY CHALET
WITH VALLEY AND SEA VIEWS

Clinic Appointments and Home Visits

Telephone: 01568 780 912
www.wiz.to/seventeen

TEL: 01568 709005
Hollybank, Kingsland, Leominster,
HR6 9SE

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Bunny Bonanza

12

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Kingsland Amateur Theatrical
Society is alive and well!
A small enthusiastic group of
people from the village have
decided to revive Kats and are currently
reading scripts, with a view to performing
a light comedy play in the Coronation Hall
later this year.
Once a suitable script has been chosen we
will be looking for additional people to join
us in all capacities, on and offstage.
Further updates will appear in next
month's Kingsland News.
Any further information required, please
ring me on 01568 708302
Richard Bayliss

Cawley Hall, Eye, from 2 pm
There will be Teas and a Raffle.
Donations of Cakes, Raffle Prizes and Jumble most
gratefully received.
Contact Jane Bray at 01568 613342 if collection required!

Events at Kingsland Methodist Church
KINGSLAND COMMUNITY GARDEN
COFFEE MORNING
Saturday 29th April 2017, 10am to 12noon
Refreshments and stalls
The Small Spaces Theatre Company presents

“My Dearest Kate”
by Ellie Dickens, adapted by Marianne Gaston, produced by Judith Wordsworth
Saturday 27th May at 7.30pm
TICKETS: £10 adults £5 under 14’s, to include a light supper
Available from:
01568 708992 or Kingsland Village Shop and Post Office

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Easter Draw in aid of the Mortimer
Medical Practice.

A draw to raise funds for the surgeries
of the Mortimer Medical Practice is
being organised by Sheila Abberley.
She would be very grateful if you
could help by donating prizes for this
event. If you are able to help please
ring Sheila (01568 7808722) or take
the prize to Kingsland Surgery.
Note: This article was intended for
the March edition but was misfiled
which resulted in its omission. I
apologise unreservedly for this,
David Noon (Editor)

MBMJ Services
Secretarial: Accounting:
Administrative Services
We can offer confidential and professional help in
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and at 10.00 am each Thursday at Kingsland unless otherwise stated:
Said Holy Eucharist BCP
* followed by Annual Parochial Church Meeting at 10 15 am
** followed by Annual Parochial Church Meeting at 1130 am
Services at the Methodist Churches this month, all at 11 am.
April

* Please note changed date
(Editor’s note: Events for this item need to be submitted by 15 th of preceding month with clear
instructions on the entry – place, time, date & title are essential information. Where more than
one month’s notice is given, items will automatically be repeated unless contrary instructions are
received.)

Kingsland W I
At our March meeting we decided on the
venue for our annual dinner in May and
also discussed possible gardens to visit in
June. We then had a 'Singalong' with Ann
Hill. She is learning the keyboard which
she took up after her sons fled the nest. Her

friend Carol Lewis gave two lovely solo
performances. Our brains were then
exercised with a garden quiz.
On April 12th our speaker will be Marian
Edwards from Gingers Millinery. All are
welcome.
Pat Hughes

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Nature Notes 14/3/17
Daffodil time – a wide selection of types
that seem to multiply by the year! These
are at their best before nettles and other
weeds take over. It is a wonderful time of
year for plants and birds. The Rooks are
very noisy as nest construction is under
way (like local housing developments) but
no hard hats, no planning officers, each
nest built by the occupants and no estate
agents!
Lawn mowers in action, days lengthening,
and vegetable gardens are waiting for the
green light. Lambs growing quickly, and
calving continues, with some of the usual
problems. George, the resident CockPheasant is now in the company of two
ladies. Are they partners? Hawthorn buds
in hedges are suddenly showing green and
Magnolia buds are bursting, but, no doubt,
there is still some frost to come. Catkins
are very visible. Is this the year when we
might enjoy some nuts? A war on Grey
Squirrels is a must, but they are amazing
survivors. Look out for the first Swallow.
R.W.H.

Shopmobility
We provide mobility scooters,
wheelchairs
and
powered
wheelchairs on a daily hire basis for
anyone with permanent or temporary
mobility difficulties wishing to visit
Hereford, Leominster, Ledbury or
Ross.
Depending on the area, the service is
either free, with a voluntary donation,
or there is a small charge.
Please contact:
Hereford
01432 342166
Leominster 01568 616755
Ledbury
01531 636001
Ross-on-Wye 01989 763388

The text messaging service to remind
people
of
their
forthcoming
appointments which was introduced
late last year appears to be reducing
the missed appointment rates. If
you have a mobile phone and have not
yet registered for receiving this
service and wish to, please contact
Kingsland surgery.
Sister Burke (Lead Nurse) is holding
a Minor Illness clinic three mornings
a week at Kingsland surgery. These
clinics will help reduce pressure on
the doctors workload.
The Friends of Mortimer Medical
Practice have purchased an

electronic information screen for the
Kingsland surgery after a suggestion
from the PPG. It has now been
installed and when up and running will
give up to-date Health and Wellbeing
information, changes in the surgery,
delayed waiting times i.e. if the
doctor you are waiting to see is
running late for their appointments
and by how long.
The Practice currently has a
shortage of dispensing staff which is
causing a problem with dispensing
prescriptions. One person is off sick,
one on maternity leave and the
person covering has now resigned.
The Practice apologises for this

30

inconvenience and hopes to resolve
the situation soon.
The next PPG meeting is Tuesday
25th April.
If anyone has any
issues/concerns they would like
discussed at this meeting let us know.
Sue
Plant
(831224)
(ryecroftbarn@btinternet.com)

Kingsland Bowling Club (midFeb-midMarch 2017 – see you on the green!)
The KBC Spring Newsletter is now out and available to all members – it’s packed
full of information, so if you haven’t received your copy, try the Clubhouse first,
then let me know and I’ll get one to you - thanks once again to Leominster
Community Resource Centre for swift and efficient service.
Sunday 5th March saw another excellent Spring Lunch masterminded by Malcolm
and Pat, Ruth and Joe - special guest appearance by Irene who was carving. This
was my favourite menu to date: roast beef (especially the crusty bits) and Yorkshire
pud with unlimited roast potatoes , followed by scrumptious individual meringues
with fruit and lashings of cream, followed by seconds of everything – yes, folks,
they’re still trying to make me more substantial! It really was delicious, thank you
to all concerned - and to cap it all, I won the wine gums in the raffle; what could be
sweeter?
On 10th March we had our penultimate Fun Night – no, Jimmy, penultimate is not
French and neither was Caractacus (aka Carattacus) – I thought it was a great name
for a rodent seeing that we’re in the Welsh Marches – he thought it was
unpronounceable. I shall not repeat the name of Kevin’s rat. Anyway, it was a
fascinating evening with Jimmy and his Amazing Performing Rats, ably aided by
Jane, Margaret and Chris. (The Chairman’s Rat, rather like the Chairman, went the
extra mile, one has to say!) This was well-attended, conversation was animated,
and there were cheese buns for all and sundry.
We now come into April and into preparations for our season; our Spring Clean
takes place on 5th April from 9.30 am. All are welcome for a wash and brush-up –
no, this is not a beauty parlour, I meant the Clubhouse – please help if you can.
When we are all bright and shiny, we can meet for our Opening Club Night on
Tuesday 11th April when we get together, socialise and find out more about events
through the spring and summer – and Tuesday Club Nights continue thereafter.
Club Opening Day on 22nd April sees our annual President’s v.Captain’s match;
this year, husband and wife will lead their troops out to battle as President Albert
squares up to Captain Carol - so do put your names down and don’t miss this
entertaining starter to our sporting year. After this, hooray! the green is open for
business. Our first match will be against the Rankin Club on 27th April at 6pm.
Finally, come one come all to our Fun Free Open Day on Saturday 29th April (10
am till 1pm) when we welcome you to try our green and our beautiful game – we
provide bowls, friendly guidance and light refreshment – all you need are flatsoled shoes and a sense of adventure! – and if you want to carry on, we offer 6 free
coaching sessions on following Tuesday evenings - so now’s your chance. If you
want to know more about us, please feel free to contact me on 01568 770546 or at
www.kingslandbowlingclub.co.uk
Susanna Checketts (Secretary)

Professional Service
Grooming since 1998
Please call
Keli Partridge on:

36

every match of difficult times, and has the
respect of the whole club. A ladies touchrugby competition, well organised on
Sunday, made it a most eventful weekend.
Cricket soon. The Luctonians Cycle Club
meets each Tuesday and Sunday morning.
This section grows steadily with lots of
activities.
Fancy joining?
More
information is available on the club website
– www.luctonians,co,uk
R.W.H.

Luctonians Sports Club
I was inspired by the performance of the
Colts team who, against Halesowen, a team
with bus-loads of supporters, won the semifinal of the North Midlands knock-out cup
at Kingsland on March 12th. This team is
the future of the Rugby Section and a credit
to their coaches. A second win for the 1st
XV raised the spirits of players and
supporters. One hundred and eighty guests
sat down for the pre-match lunch, another
excellent meal, followed by a good address
from an old ‘enemy’, Guy Griffiths of
Hereford – peace in our time! The play of
the 1st team, who beat Otley 30-21, and a
folk band to follow made it a memorable
day. A black spot was that the captain,
Alex Smith, sustained a full dislocation of
the elbow. This is very painful and
unusual, and probably means the end of his
season! This person has given his all in

Parish Church of St Michael & All Angels, Kingsland
2nd April, 1st Sunday of the Month at 9.30 am is

Family Service
Leader:

Mrs Wendy Maddocks.
Come and enjoy learning about and constructing

An Easter Garden

39

this event in Herefordshire as they
become clearer.
Veterans Gateway The RBL, SSAFA and
Combat Stress are combining to open a
helpline for all veterans who are seeking
advice for any reason so that they can
be directed to the appropriate agency
to handle their problem. The launch
date is scheduled for 22nd May, 2017,
and I will inform all members of contact
details when known.
Gordon Browne (Chairman)

Royal British Legion
Branch Meetings The 2017 programme
got off to a good start with a wellsupported social evening on 6th March.
The quiz and draw raised a combined
total of ÂŁ89.
Emma and Terence hope to offer a
choice of dishes for our suppers and to
hold the price at ÂŁ4 for a while longer.
The next meeting will be on 3rd April,
with hopefully lighter evenings.
End of WWI Commemoration The
church authorities are planning a nation
wide event to mark the end of WWI,
starting at 6am on 11th November,
2018. Why this time is not clear as
actual hostilities continued right up to
the 11am deadline.
I will keep
members informed as to any plans for

Hymn Singing
The next session of Hymn-singing
followed by tea and scones will be
at 5 Highfield Close, Kingsland, on
Thursday 27th April at 2.30 pm. All
welcome!

Soup & Pancake Lunch in Aid of St
Michael’s Hospice
The committee of Kingsland & Eardisland
Hospice Friends is pleased to report that
this event, held at the Luctonians
Clubhouse on Shrove Tuesday, raised
£438.43 for the Hospice. The committee
wishes to express grateful thanks to all who
supported the event, and to the staff at the
Luctonians for their invaluable assistance.

Lorna Noon (Secretary)

Spring Events in aid of St Michael’s Hospice
St Michael’s Hospice Plant Fair
Friday 5th May 11am - 7pm and
Saturday 6th May 10am - 5pm
This inaugural event will be a celebration of springtime gardening. The Fair will
take place in the Hospice gardens on the new terrace, a sun trap looking out
onto beautiful views towards Haugh Woods. A chance to browse and buy a
wide range of plants grown by professional and amateur gardeners. Handmade
birdhouses, trugs, honey and preserves will also be on sale.
Delicious two-course lunches (booking essential) and other refreshments
available; please see our website for booking details. Pre-school craft activities
will run on Friday; and school-aged children can take part in WildPlay sessions
provided by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust on Saturday (11am-4pm).
For full details, visit www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk

Open Gardens
This summer, a wide array of beautiful gardens will be open for you to explore.
From a monastery to a Victorian mansion which played host to a hit movie,
visitors to our Open Gardens events won’t be short of choice. There are 15
different dates for your diary. For more details, visit st-michaelshospice.org.uk or pick up an Open Gardens brochure at the Hospice or in any of
our Retail outlets.

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Advertising in the Kingsland News. (from 1/3/17)
This monthly publication is circulated to every household in Kingsland Village (Print run
530) free of charge. Advertising is accepted (provided the material is fit for publication) on
completion of the form below, and payment should preferably be by cheque to “Kingsland
P.C.C. Bookstall Account”. The system used to produce the magazine is literally black &
white only, greys are not distinguished and photographs do not reproduce well, though line
drawings are fine. Advertisers should make copy as clear and brief as possible, since very
close, small, type becomes difficult to read. The full page size is A5 (portrait) (195 x 130
mm) so the fractions of a page are A6 (landscape) (130 x 90 mm), A7 (portrait) (90 x 60
mm) and A8 (landscape) (60 x 45 mm). (Dimensions approximate)
Please return the completed form to The Editor at 5, Highfield Close, Kingsland, HR6 9RS,
or place in the ‘Hen Box’ at West Mead.

Charges for Advertising

Size no. of
insertions

Full Page
½ Page
¼ Page
⅛ Page

1

6

12

£15
£8
£5
£3

£80
£40
£25
£14

£120
£60
£40
£25

A guy joins a monastery and takes a vow of
silence: he's allowed to say two words every
seven years.
After the first seven years, the elders bring him
in and ask for his two words. "Cold floors," he
says.
They nod and send him away. Seven more
years pass. They bring him back in and ask for
his two words. He clears his throats and says,
"Bad food." They nod and send him away.
Seven more years pass. They bring him in for
his two words. "I quit," he says.
"That's not surprising," the elders say.
"You've done nothing but complain since you
got here."